“Batman Doesn’t Do That”: DC Knows What Sets the Dark Knight Apart From Marvel’s Legends

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Numerous comparisons can be drawn between Batman and some of Marvel Comics’ most prolific heroes, but there’s one key distinction that draws a firm line between them. A DC Comics writer has uncovered the main quality that sets Batman apart from Marvel icons like Spider-Man, and it exposes the reason fans love reading about his vigilante exploits.

In an interview with Comics Beat, Scott Snyder – longtime Batman writer and current author of Absolute Batman – shares his thoughts on how Batman feels about his vigilante lifestyle in DC lore, and how his perspective stacks up against those of the best heroes Marvel has to offer.

Batman’s not Daredevil or Spider-Man who have a default position of like, you know, nervousness and anxiety around what they do. They love what they do, but there’s guilt and there’s worry and there’s those things, and that’s what makes them great characters. Batman doesn’t do that.

According to Snyder, the distinguishing factor between Batman and characters like Daredevil and Spider-Man is the fact that he isn’t burdened by guilt over his superhero work while they are. Instead, Batman enjoys what he does, which in turn allows readers to feel that same enjoyment as they follow his exploits.

Batman Differs From Marvel’s Superheroes Because He Lacks Their Anxieties

Bruce Wayne Enjoys Crime-Fighting From the Beginning

Many superheroes from both DC and Marvel’s universes deal with internal conflicts when they first embark on their heroic endeavors. Whether these conflicts are related to the deeds themselves or the potential danger their actions could put their loved ones in, they don’t always jump headfirst into the fray with reckless abandon. Bruce Wayne, however, is singular in his dedication to his Batman cause from the beginning. He is driven by a desire to defend Gotham from its criminal element, and he doesn’t hesitate to strive towards that end goal. Snyder describes his interpretation of Batman’s zest for vigilantism as follows:

His default position, to me, is one of the few heroes that starts up. It’s why the Lego Batman, to me, is one of the truest versions of the character. It’s that arrogance and egotism, that confidence starting from where the needle is pointing up, his very, “I am going to do this and I am awesome!” attitude is itself the wind of Batman because he’s coming from a place where he shouldn’t be that confident. He shouldn’t be okay to be what he is because of what happened to him as a kid. Yet, because he can? That makes you want to get up and overcome everything.

Snyder’s point here is that, in his depictions of the character, Batman isn’t one to be inhibited by anxiety when it comes to his mission. Once he makes the choice to become Batman, he commits fully to embodying that role instead of wavering. Confidence is essential to Bruce’s transformation into Batman. There’s a reason, after all, that the question of which identity is his real mask has become so pervasive. He embraces his most daring, arrogant self as Batman, devoting himself to crime-fighting in such a bombastic manner that it’s impossible not to root for him.

Unlike Batman, Marvel’s Characters Experience Guilt Over Their Superhero Lifestyles

Spider-Man and Daredevil Have Different Feelings About Their Choices

Batman’s confidence as the Dark Knight isn’t necessarily unique to him, though it is a quality that certain Marvel superheroes lack. Spider-Man, for instance, is the textbook example of a hero who is weighed down by his woes. Peter Parker constantly has to make sacrifices as he juggles his alter ego with his civilian identity, which often leads to disastrous results. His worries aren’t without cause, of course, as his Spider-Man ventures ultimately led to the tragic death of Gwen Stacy. His trademark “Parker Luck” causes him to experience anxiety over his choice to be Spider-Man and second-guess himself at every turn in a way that Batman doesn’t.

Daredevil bears much more of a resemblance to Batman, from their similar protection of a bleak city to their status as an imposing figure for villains to fear the presence of.Unlike Batman, though, Matt Murdock tends to wrestle with uncertainty about the harm he causes as Daredevil. His loyalty to his Catholic faith makes him doubt whether his violent acts are the right path. Daredevil has even turned to bible verses and pleaded for God’s forgiveness in the aftermath of his fights, desperate to redeem himself, whereas Batman grapples with no such remorse.

Absolute Batman Proves Bruce Wayne Has Fully Embraced Vigilantism

Batman Loves What He Does, and Scott Snyder Knows Readers Agree

The Batman of DC’s prime continuity serves as an example of Snyder’s angle, though the rendition he presents in Absolute Batman personifies that notion to a greater extent. Snyder sums this idea up in his interview:

He starts from this place of like getting up. We’re doing it. We’re gonna win and it’s fun and so I always love to have at least one moment in each issue where he does something like that where you’re like, “Oh man, I love Batman. I love Batman he’s the best.” You know?

This revamped Batman represents a younger generation through his anger at a system that has failed him, so he doesn’t bother weighing the consequences of the means to his end. Instead, fueled by vigor and ego, Absolute Batman performs epic stunts that spark awe in readers. From unleashing his massive Batmobile to blowing up buildings, Batman fights boldly on Gotham’s behalf without holding back, unhindered by regrets or insecurities like Marvel’s stars.

Source: Comics Beat

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